Beggar who helped lost sisters invited to stay... in Sweden
A JOBLESS man who gave directions to two lost tourists while he was begging in the street did not expect his kindness to be repaid.
But after helping Swede Annis Lindqvist and her youngster sister Emma Ahlstrom, Jimmy Fraser struck up a remarkable friendship with the pair – and ended up being invited to spend Christmas with them in Sweden.
Mr Fraser, 54, was begging on Edinburgh’s George Street on September 1 when he met the pair, who were visiting the city on holiday.
After directing them to The Standing Order pub, he swapped numbers with Mrs Lindqvist, 37, and they began texting.
She then invited him to spend Christmas at her home in Sågmyra – even buying his air tickets and sending money for a new passport to make it happen.
Mr Fraser said: ‘I got their phone number off them and texted them saying “Hope you have a safe journey home” and “Text me when you get there”.
‘We just started texting each other since then and next thing you know I’ve got a passport in my hand and that was it, I was flying away somewhere.’
The father-of-two flew out on December 21 and spent a week with Mrs Lindqvist, her husband Daniel and their three children. They got on so well together that he has been invited back for Easter.
Mr Fraser was welcomed into the family’s seasonal celebrations – attending Christmas markets and Midnight Mass, and even sampling some local cuisine in the form of elk meatballs.
The former security guard, who is originally from Lanark, said that it was ‘rare’ to find someone as thoughtful as Mrs Lindqvist.
‘She’s so kind, so considerate and I don’t know why she’s done it – I still don’t know, I really don’t, but she’s done it and it happened,’ he said.
‘It was a dream come true, it really was. I wasn’t expecting it.’
Mr Fraser moved to Edinburgh from London 13 years ago following a divorce.
He was homeless for ten years but eventually found accommodation through The Ark Trust charity, and now lives in a small flat. However, he remains unemployed and begs on the street.
‘People just walk past – they don’t even bother and leave you lying there, whereas people like Annis will pick you up and help you,’ said Mr Fraser.
‘It was amazing, I miss them so much. If I could go back tomorrow I would.’ Mrs Lindqvist, who works in a retirement home for people with dementia, said she has called Mr Fraser every day since he returned to Edinburgh and cannot wait for him to visit again.
Recalling when they first met, she said: ‘Jimmy was sitting on some stairs and we walked by but my sister stopped and wanted to go back and sit down with him, so we did. We sat there for hours, got to meet the people who offer food to the homeless and just talked about life and stuff.
‘But I wanted to do more and I know he hasn’t spent Christmas with a family for many years, so I asked him if he wanted to come visit me and my family.
‘A few people thought it was a bit crazy since I didn’t know him that much but when they met him they understood.’
She added: ‘My youngest kid asks every day when’s he coming back – they miss him a lot.
‘He got presents and when he went back home we had gotten a big suitcase that weighed 18kg (40lb) with clothes and things that my friends and family had got him. I’m never letting him go – he’s a part of our family now.’
‘He’s part of our family now’